Matthew Hoggard's tour could hardly have got worse - one Test wicket for 248 - so he relaxed his shoulders and resolved to enjoy the warm and humid Sydney air.

So much so that he rediscovered the swing with which he made his
name and returned four for 92 - an equally important contribution to England winning than Andrew Caddick's 10 wickets or Michael Vaughan's 183, given that it came in the first innings.

The same was true for Dean Headley in Melbourne 1998/99.

First-innings figures of nought for 86 and an Australian target of 174 for a 3-0 series lead were hardly the ideal combination for the confidence of an opening bowler.

So Headley relaxed, did not allow himself to get flustered when Australia reached 103 for two and promptly returned a career-best six for 60 as England won by 12.

And so the story goes on.

In 1994/95, just after they had lost their talisman Darren Gough through injury, England came back to win the fourth Test by 106 runs with an incisive last-day performance by Devon Malcolm, Chris Lewis and Angus Fraser.

And in 1993, when the trend for consolation victories was set, Fraser and Malcolm were again to the fore with 14 wickets in the match.

Andy Caddick made the final thrusts

Even more important, however, was an exceptional performance of typically English seam and swing bowling from a Welshman, Steve Watkin, who returned four for 65 in the second innings.

And so back to Sydney 2002/03 and the latest instalment of England's record of arriving at the fight once the contest has been decided.

Out came Australia - weakened in bowling, but not batting - needing 452 to complete a whitewash or survive four sessions to draw.

Out, too, came Andrew Caddick, relaxed and smiling for a change.

Figures of seven for 94 later and, finally, there truly was something to smile about.